Crisis Intervention Specialist - Emergency Services & Crisis Care
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Crisis Intervention Specialist - Emergency Services & Crisis Care
Salary
$83,009.89 - $138,349.74 Annually
Location
FAIRFAX (HH12), VA
Job Type
FT Salary W BN
Job Number
26-00566
Department
Community Services Board
Opening Date
04/11/2026
Closing Date
4/24/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade
S28
Posting Type
Open to General Public
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Announcement
$10,000 Sign-On Bonus*
The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board is seeking a dynamic, clinically experienced individual to supervise a large multidisciplinary team in Emergency Services serving individuals with mental health and/or co-occurring disorders in psychiatric crisis. Must be passionate about working with people, knowledgeable in evidence-based, trauma-informed interventions, and exhibit creativity and flexibility when working with individuals in the community to refer to appropriate levels of care. Exciting opportunity to work with a program that provides specialized services such as assessment for temporary detention, evaluation for hospitalization, and critical stress incident management response. Must be clinically competent to work with clients of all ages, backgrounds, and diagnoses, as well as be able to provide support and direction regarding county and regional services. A recovery-based orientation is essential, along with strong leadership skills and the confidence to work with agencies both within and outside of the Fairfax County Community Services Board. Experienced conducting risk assessments, making rapid differential diagnosis, providing crisis intervention along with providing supervision.
Position responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Assesses, diagnoses, provides crisis intervention and when necessary. Hospitalizes individuals who are extremely high-risk. Attends civil commitment hearings providing expert testimony as required under 37.2-817b of the code of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Maintains specialized knowledge and level of experience to work effectively and flexibly with individuals in life and death situations as a routine and daily part of the job. Recognizes and works with a wide variety of disabilities, including Mental Illness (MI), Substance Abuse (SA) and Dependence, and Intellectual Disabilities (ID). Keeps abreast of civil psychiatric detention and commitment law and uses its provisions effectively to effect involuntary hospitalization when a high-risk individual refuses voluntary care.
Uses a comprehensive knowledge of community resources and referral agencies to connect people in crisis with appropriate ongoing clinical treatment and with agencies that may alleviate exacerbating issues such as hunger, homelessness, medical illness, and other factors. Has a sound understanding of psychiatric disorders, psychotropic medications, and medical conditions to connect individuals with psychiatrist, when needed.
Uses highly specialized skills in hostage/barricade situations, critical incident stress management, and disasters and responds on a 24-hour basis to such situations. Acts as a subject matter expert to other teams and agencies on complex, high-risk cases.
To learn more about this position see our Crisis Intervention job preview video.
Here are some of the benefits CSB employees enjoy:
*This position includes a signing bonus for new merit county employees in the amount of $10,000 (full-time).
In addition, to the annual environmental bonus pay of $3,600 for full-time positions (paid biweekly).
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home - including Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and many others (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/demographics/fairfax-county-general-overview) . We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1560/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Licensed Nurse Practitioner.
In addition, to recognize and reinforce the importance of professional development and enhance future recruitment of licensed professionals, if approved, the licensure supervisors will receive a stipend of $1,500 paid out biweekly over a 12-month period whether for one or more Department of Health licensure candidates.
License/Certification Reimbursement - Reimbursement for job related licenses and/or certifications once per year.
To find out more about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the CSB Careers Page (https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/careers) .
Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video "CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care."
Illustrative Duties
(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)
Reviews clinical records writes clinical notes, and completes pre-detention and pre-admission screening evaluation forms;
Performs complex, code mandated evaluations to include mental status examination, and comprehensive risk assessment;
Makes independent diagnosis and determines if the individual meets civil commitment criteria; When clinically indicated, recommends the issuance of an Emergency Custody Order or a Temporary Detention Order;
Evaluates individuals seeking voluntary admission to a local psychiatric hospital (state funded admission) or a crisis stabilization unit;
Provides emergency crisis intervention services to individuals who are high risk, e.g., suicidal, homicidal, experiencing symptoms of psychosis, with the goal of stabilization and finding creative and safe community treatment alternatives;
As needed, responds on rapid call-out (24/7) to high risk hostage/barricade situations providing on scene consultation and intervention services;
As needed, responds on rapid call-out (24/7) to public safety personnel other county employees, or community members who have been exposed to psychologically traumatic events;
Attends civil commitment and appeal hearings providing expert testimony to General District and Circuit Courts; Responds in the community to requests from individuals, friends/family, and other Fairfax County departments or community referrals to evaluate and intervene with individuals in the community who are high risk and are unwilling or unable to come voluntarily to the CSB Emergency Service for evaluation or treatment;
May work as part of mobile response teams when necessary;
Assesses the need for referral to a psychiatrist, or to a primary care physician or to a hospital emergency department;
Provides expert consultation to Human Services and Public Safety agencies and the private sector regarding individuals who are clinically complex and/or high risk;
Works closely and collaboratively with Law Enforcement Officers and/or Sheriff's Deputies throughout the evaluation and detention process;
Provides liaison to community agencies to facilitate communication and service provision for clients requiring multiple services and/or who are clinically complex and/high risk;
When applicable, provides clinical supervision to license eligible Crisis Intervention Specialists and/or training to newly hired staff.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Comprehensive knowledge of the Code of Virginia pertaining to Emergency Custody Orders, Temporary Detention Orders, Civil Commitment, Mandatory Outpatient Treatment, Duty to Warn, etc.;
Comprehensive knowledge of community resources and referral agencies to be able to connect individuals in crisis with appropriate ongoing clinical treatment and with agencies that may alleviate exacerbating issues such as hunger, homelessness, medical illness and other factors;
Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of the psychological and social development of the individual;
Thorough knowledge of intake procedures, social history development, and interviewing techniques;
Thorough knowledge of treatment of options for individuals with behavioral health and substance uses disorders; Knowledge of Critical Incident Stress Management techniques including psychoeducational training on psychological and stress first aid and resiliency training;
Knowledge in hostage/barricade negotiation techniques and incident command management (ICM);
Knowledge of psychiatric, psychological, and/or sociological terminology and concepts; Knowledge of clinical supervisory methods and techniques;
Ability to complete a mental status examination and comprehensive risk assessment;
Ability to conduct mental health assessments and apply treatment approaches/modalities;
Ability to formulate diagnoses;
Ability to work effectively with individuals in life and death situations as a routine and daily part of the job;
Ability to diagnostically interpret data obtained from psychological test results, social histories, and interviews;
Ability to prepare, produce, and conduct program presentations;
Ability to function independently in high-stress situations;
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, co-workers, public and private sector organizations, public safety, community groups, and the general public;
Ability to successfully perform as a team leader/member;
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college with a master's degree in social work, psychology, or counseling, plus two years of clinical experience or a doctoral degree in social work, psychology, or counseling, plus one year of clinical experience.
Must be eligible to be licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia in one of the following: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Clinical Psychologist, or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
A valid driver's license with fewer than six (6) demerit points (or equivalent in another state) and must be maintained throughout employment with CSB.
MANDT (within 3 months of hire)
Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) (within 3 months of hire)
Certified Pre-screener (Department of Behavioral Health and Disability) (within 6 months of hire)
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter. Hepatitis C screening at time of appointment and annually thereafter. National Provider Identifier (NPI).
Additional Work Schedule Requirements: Program operates 24/7. Position requires shift work that includes overnights, weekends, and holidays. Position also requires on-call coverage based upon the needs of the service and minimum staffing requirements.
Licensed providers may not "opt out" of being a Medicare provider.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Certified Virginia State pre-screener
Post-licensure experience providing direct clinical services to individuals with mental illness.
Emergency Services experience working in a mental health setting with consumers who have serious mental illness.
Experience as a mental health supervisor.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to communicate clearly with others and make clinical observations. Ability to run/climb several flights of stairs; lift an object of 20 lbs.; drive vehicle; ability to review clinical records, write clinical notes and complete pre - detention and pre-admission evaluation forms; and use keyboard driven equipment. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.
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